Our Grade 10 Israel Exchange Program

Rabbi Eiduson and fifteen Grade 10 students traveled to Israel in mid-February 2019 as part of the HiBur exchange program with their Grade 10 counterparts in Haifa. Take a day-by-day journey with them to share in their experiences on this extraordinary trip.

About Project HiBur

In the last four years, Congregation B’nai Torah has been part of an award-winning program called “Project HiBuR.” This program was originally initiated by Congregation Beth El of Sudbury more than fifteen years ago and is now open to Grade 10 students who are affiliated with other Metrowest synagogues. This unique program is supported by CJP’s Boston-Haifa partnership and is heavily subsidized so that every student who is interested can participate.

A Life-Changing and Transformational Experience

At its heart, Project HiBuR is school-match partnership that offers Grade 10 students in Boston and in Haifa an innovative year-long opportunity of study, travel, and friendship. The program connects Grade 10 Metrowest Boston Jewish synagogue teens with students in Grade 10 at the Huggim High School in Haifa. The objective is for our teens from Boston and Haifa to get to know one another – at first virtually – and then by way of in-person meetings in the United States and in Israel. Students have an opportunity to explore Boston, New York and Israel together, to host and be hosted in each other’s homes, and to share their thoughts and feelings about Judaism, Jewish values and Jewish identity in the twenty-first century. HiBuR is one of the most powerful programs available for teens and is like no other Israel program for American teenagers. Over the years, the teenage participants and their families have described the experience as “life-changing” and “transformational.”

Why We Joined

"The open and caring environment, the relaxed feel of Friday services, and weekday-only Hebrew School were the best fit for our busy family. It’s a diverse and inclusive congregation, with many interfaith families — something that is very important to us."